Archives Center, National Museum of American History

John Frances Little inherited this scrapbook from his uncle, who worked on the Canal and
presumably took the pictures and compiled the scrapbook. (The 20 some smaller photographs in
the back of the envelope are apparently his personal snapshots-it is unclear whether he took the
others.) His name is unknown.

Scope and Content

Eighty-two photographs glued to pages in a scrapbook documenting the building of the Panama Canal.
Subjects of the photographs include the workers, the worksite, equipment
(steam shovels, trains,
tools), the camp, building interiors and exteriors, and the local terrain. Locations include:
Cucaracha; Culebra Cut; Cunette; Village of
Tabernilla, C.Z.; Hodges Hill; Empire West and
East Banks; Gold Hill; Contractor's Hill; and Corozal.

Provenance

The scrapbook was donated to the Archives Center by M. Ruth Little, wife of John Frances
Little, who inherited the scrapbook.

Related Collections

There are many photographs of Canal construction in the Underwood & Underwood
Stereograph Collection.